Expansion of 'free childcare' offer to one- and two-year-olds without addressing underfunding would lead to collapse of early years sector, Alliance warns

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

"We fully recognise that the current lack of support towards the cost of childcare and early education for most under-threes is creating huge financial challenges for many families, and so it is unsurprising that government is now feeling under pressure to address this gap. 

"That said, the harsh reality is that for years now, the existing so-called ‘free childcare’ schemes have been grossly underfunded because adequately investing in these policies was, in government’s own words, ‘unaffordable’. We are deeply concerned, therefore, about any suggestion of expanding upon the current early entitlement offers without first acknowledging and addressing the significant shortfalls in government funding that already exist. 

"Put simply, if the government extends the 30-hour offer to parents of one- and two-year-olds without first ensuring that funding actually covers the cost of delivering places, the entire early years sector will collapse. Promising more ‘free childcare’ without adequately funding it was exactly what got us into the current crisis. It is critical that ministers don’t make the same mistake again."